Which blood vessel carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart?

The blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart is the pulmonary vein. After the process of gas exchange in the alveoli of the lungs, oxygen-rich blood enters the pulmonary veins, which transport this oxygenated blood back to the left atrium of the heart.

This is a key element of the pulmonary circulation. It contrasts with the pulmonary artery, which carries deoxygenated blood away from the heart to the lungs, and the aorta, which distributes oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The coronary vein is involved in draining deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle itself, returning it to the circulation, but is not responsible for carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs. Understanding these pathways is crucial for grasping the overall function of the cardiovascular system.